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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Joe Bray

Greenwood dropped, Fred starts - Manchester United predicted team vs West Ham

It might not have been a great game to watch as Manchester United beat Astana in the Europa League, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have learned a lot about his team on Thursday.

Solskjaer took the opportunity to rest a number of his first team regulars against the Kazakhstan side, with Paul Pogba , Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Victor Lindelof missing out completely. Harry Maguire was an unused substitute.

Mason Greenwood made a matchwinning start, with Fred and Marcos Rojo also playing themselves into contention for a possible place on the teamsheet for the trip to West Ham.

In Greenwood's case, injuries might dictate that he starts on Sunday, but Solskjaer will be wary of playing the 17-year-old too much, too soon, leaving him with a decision to make up front.

At the back Lindelof and David de Gea should regain their spots after signing new contracts this week, with Wan-Bissaka and Maguire also returning.

Rojo played himself into contention against Astana, but Ashley Young is probably the safer option against an energetic West Ham forward line as Luke Shaw remains injured.

Fred deserves to start, with Scott McTominay to come back. Assuming Paul Pogba is not fit, Nemanja Matic could get the nod after captaining the side in midweek.

With Anthony Martial still out, Marcus Rashford is set to continue upfront, with Daniel James to start on the left if he has shaken off his own injury.

The main decision for Solskjaer concerns Greenwood, with the temptation to play him after his first goal for the club on Thursday. But at 17, Greenwood still must be managed, and Solskjaer is likely to drop him to the bench in favour of Jesse Lingard or Juan Mata.

Predicted Man Utd XI vs West Ham: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Young; Fred, Matic, McTominay; James, Lingard, Rashford.

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